Evaluation of the biological activity of crude latex and ethanolic leaves extract of Calotropis procera (Asclepiadaceae) against the mosquito vector Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae)

摘要

In recent years, use of environmentally friendly and biodegradable natural insecticides of plant origin have received a great attention as agents for disease vector control.Crude latex and ethanolic extract of leaves from the Saudi plant Calotropis procera (Asclepiadaceae) were tested against 3rd instar larvae of Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito.The obtained results indicated that crude latex was more efficient than ethanolic leaves extract.The LC50 values of the crude latex and ethanolic leaves extract were found to be 57.3 and 388.7 ppm, respectively.Also, a remarkable reduction in both the pupation percent and adult emergence was obtained.Moreover, the latex showed a highly delayed toxic effect on the pupae and adults resulted from treated larvae, where the pupal mortality was 100% at the highest concentrations used (75 and 150ppm).The current results were considered promising to proceed in studying the bioactive plants which represent an environmentally sound alternative for the synthetic larvicides.